Parliament Question: Skill Gaps, Unemployment and Underemployment in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3583 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 SKILL GAPS, UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT IN RAJASTHAN 3583. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the district-wise status of skill gaps, unemployment, and underemployment in Rajasthan, particularly in semi-arid and agro-based districts like Churu; (b) whether any new district-focused skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives launched since 2022 and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has reviewed challenges in scheme delivery including under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, in backward and rural districts along with the steps taken to address them; (d) whether the Government proposes to set up new Skill Hubs, Rural Skill Schools, or sector- specific training centres in Churu and adjoining districts; (e) whether the Government is contemplating integrating skill development initiatives with local industries and agriculture-linked enterprises to boost youth employment; and (f) if so, the timeline, budgetary allocations, and expected outcomes of such measures in Rajasthan? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) & (b): District Skill Committees (DSCs), set up across all States/UTs including Rajasthan, are mandated with formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) to promote decentralized planning for skill development and implementation at the grassroots level. The DSDPs identify sectors with employment opportunities as well as the associated demand for skilling in the district, and map the available facilities for Skill Training. Skill Development Programmes of the Government are designed and implemented to bridge identified skill gaps across sectors. Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country, including Churu district in Rajasthan. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready, equipped with industry relevant skills. (c) to (f): To address issues such as limited infrastructure, low awareness and mobilization difficulties, steps like improved monitoring through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), targeted mobilization, and capacity-building workshops have been undertaken. Under PMKVY, emphasis is placed on rural outreach and employer engagement to expand training opportunities. Further, since June, 2022, Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) facilitates candidates to avail opportunities in Apprenticeship training and establishments to identify potential candidates and in selection of Apprentices. In addition, awareness workshops assist in promoting the scheme amongst various stake holders throughout the country. The Ministry actively promotes convergence between skill development and local industries, including agriculture-linked sectors. Job roles related to ago-processing, food industry, and rural enterprises have been approved for training in various districts of Rajasthan. Further, in order tomeet skilling requirement for future workforce, improve the quality of skilling, to align the training programs with local industries, following specific steps have been taken by MSDE: i. The training programs offered under the schemes of MSDE are developed in collaboration with industries, keeping in view market demands. 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry leaders in the respective sectors, have been set up by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) which are mandated to identify the skill development needs of respective sectors as well as to determine skill competency standards. ii. Future ready job-roles addressing the requirement of Industry 4.0, emerging sectors like Drone, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mechatronics, etc., have been prioritized under PMKVY 4.0. Under CTS also, new age courses have been developed to meet the demand of futuristic job roles in emerging technologies. iii. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been set up as an overarching regulator establishing regulations and standards to ensure quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space. iv. The Awarding Bodies recognised by NCVET are required to develop the qualifications as per the industry demand and map them with the identified occupations as per the National Classification of Occupation, 2015, of Ministry of Labour and Employment and obtain industry validations. v. Directorate General of Training (DGT) is implementing Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST). These initiatives are meant to provide training to ITI students in industrial environment. vi. DGT has also signed MoUs with IT Tech companies like IBM, CISCO, Future Skill Rights Network (erstwhile Quest Alliance), Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft to ensure industry linkages for the institutes, under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. vi. Courses aligned to National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) also have components of On Job Training (OJT) and employability skills. viii. NSDC, under the Market led program, provides support to training providers that collaborate and align skill courses with industry demand. ix. Under NAPS, apprenticeship training and increasing engagement with industrial establishments for undertaking apprenticeship programs is promoted. x. Implementation of Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) scheme, a World Bank assisted project launched with the objective of improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training provided through ITIs. xi. Trainings of Trainers through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Institutes of Training of Trainers (IToTs). xii. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Portal has been established as a Digital Public Infrastructure for skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems. xiii. Government has approved National Scheme for Upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and setting up National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) for skilling. Focus of the scheme is on industry led skilling. Funds under PMKVY are released to implementing agencies for meeting the training cost as per prescribed norms. Under JSS scheme, funds are released to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) directly. Under NAPS, stipend support up to Rs 1500/- per month is released to apprentices through DBT and not to the establishments covered. Day to day administration as well as financial control in respect of CTS scheme implemented through ITIs lies with the respective State Government/UT Administration. The funds released for implementation of PMKVY, JSS and NAPS schemes in the State of Rajasthan since 2018-19 to 2024-25 (as on 31.03.2025) are as under: (Rs. in Crores) Scheme Fund Released PMKVY 551.64 NAPS 27.80 JSS 23.64 ******